Alex wrote:Forgot also not having used a larger Kyusu for quite some time just how nice the leaves smell in a big warm empty pot. I guess the large area on the bottom spreads the the leaves thin and warms them to a higher temp. The smell is out of this world....almost the best part of the session

Ah yes, the "I ... must ... sit ... down ... moments!" Often my fave part of tea as well is smelling the warming leaves in a preheated Kyusu.

Teaism wrote: Hi Chip, He mentioned that the customs charged about 40% and sometime 50% duties. I felt he thought that it such a waste to pay the duties and send it overseas again.

Yes, this was my thought as well.

Plus I suspect he has gone this route with international customers who thought just like us, maybe he has such a pot in his B&M ... but then they get sticker shock over the significantly higher price due to added shipping and customs.

He likely has a much higher "conversion" or success selling as he does, online inventory for online shoppers and Malaysian shop inventory for Malaysian shop shoppers.

This is a complete non-sequiter but I finally made it to the end! I began this thread one month ago after buying myself a Mukuhara Kashun kyusu from Artistic Nippon. Here I am now with an affinity for Hokujo's work as well as Touju's. It's strange how one's aesthetic changes. When I started I was very attracted to Hagi ware (the marshmallow/cloud looking kind, and still am) and generally disliked plainer looking kyusus, but I have come to appreciate them. Have any of you noticed changes in your aesthetics during different seasons/circumstances? Maybe someday my budget will allow me more freedom to have changing tastes...